Animal holder

ABSTRACT

A base element includes a ring at one end for engaging a pig&#39;&#39;s nose and a sliding member at the opposite end includes an upstanding member for matingly engaging the rear end of an animal and a clamping member is pivotally connected to the slide member for engaging the rear legs of the animal pressing them against the animal&#39;&#39;s mid-section. A laterally outwardly extending actuating member is provided for the operator to pivot the clamping member and slide the sliding member by the actuating member engaging the operator&#39;&#39;s hip or leg. The pivoting action of the clamping member is resisted by a spring which yieldably maintains it at a predetermined angle relative to the base member. Side rails are provided on opposite sides of the base member and extend rearwardly from the nose engaging member. The base member includes downwardly extending clamping means for releaseably attaching the holder to an upstanding support.

United States Patent 91 Andersen 51 May 15, 1973 [54] ANIMAL HOLDER [76] Inventor: Raymond E. Andersen, Rural Route [52] US. Cl ..119/103, 119/96 [51] Int. Cl. ..A0lk 29/00, A6ld 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..119/103; 128/133; 17/1 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,137,273 6/1964 Greenwood ..119/103 2,788,767 4/1957 Dooley ..l 19/103 3,164,131 l/l965 Bradshaw ..l l9/l03 Primary Examiner--Aldrich F. Medbery Attorney-Zarley, McKee & Thomte [57] ABSTRACT A base element includes a ring at one end for engaging a pigs nose and a sliding member at the opposite end includes an upstanding member for matingly engaging the rear end of an animal and a clamping member is pivotally connected to the slide member for engaging the rear legs of the animal pressing them against the animals mid-section. A laterally outwardly extending actuating member is provided for the operator to pivot the clamping member and slide the sliding member by the actuating member engaging the operators hip or leg. The pivoting action of the clamping member is resisted by a spring which yieldably maintains it at a predetermined angle relative to the base member. Side rails are provided on opposite sides of the base member and extend rearwardly from the nose engaging member. The base member includes downwardly extending clamping means for releaseably attaching the holder to an upstanding support.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ANIMAL HOLDER In working on pigs it usually requires two people, one to hold the pig and the other to perform the given operation. Common jobs performed on pigs include castration, vaccination, ear knotching and miscellaneous medical treatments. This is inefficient, inconvenient and unsafe. The person working on the pig cannot be fully assured that the other person is going to be able to hold the pig securely. A loose leg of a pig can cause serious injury to the holder or the person working on the animal.

The animal holding device of this invention makes it possible to securely hold the animal alone leaving both hands free to perform the given operation whether it be castration, vaccination, ear knotching or other like jobs. The animal s nose is securely locked in a nose ring and with the animal on its back a clamping member presses the rear legs forwardly against the animal s midsection. The front legs are free but are helpless. The operator can vary the pressure of the clamping member and rear end plate against the pig by hip pressure on a laterally outwardly extending actuating member which serves to pivot the clamping member and slide the slide member. Side rails extend rearwardly from the nose ring to help guide the pig into its position on the pig holder. When the pig is to be released the slide member is merely moved rearwardly freeing the animal to be removed from the holder. The clamping member is spring biased to a predetermined angle above the base member such that the pig may be easily positioned on the holding device under the clamping member. Convenient adjustments are possible for different size pigs although most pigs can be worked upon without adjustments being made since the clamping member being pivotal will be movable to any required position for holding the animal stationary.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pig holding device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a reduced in scale side elevational view showing a pig being held in the holding device.

The pig holding device of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 in FIG. I and includes a nose ring 12 at the forward end of elongated side base rods 14 which are interconnected by a plate 16 at the opposite end. Oppositely disposed nuts 18 hold the plate 16 in its desired position. A pair of downwardly facing U-shaped clamps 20 and 22 are positioned at the forward and rearward ends of the base rails 14 for embracing a wall or gate-like structure 24 as indicated by the dash lines in FIG. 1. A pair of hand operated locking bolts 26 are provided for each of the U-shaped clamp members. The clamp members are welded along their base portions to transversely extending upwardly concave plate elements 27 welded to the side rails 14.

A pair of oppositely disposed side rails 30 extend from the ring member 12 above the base rails 14. The

side rails 30 flare outwardly at their rear free ends 32 and include cushion sleeve elements 34 thereon.

A slide assembly 36 engages the base rails 14 and includes a pair of sleeves 38 interconnected by a plate element 40. The base rails 14 extend through the sleeves 38. A transversely extending rod member42 is rotatably connected to the sleeves 38 by transversely disposed sleeve elements 44. A rearwardly extending ear member 46 is yieldably maintained against the plate element 40 by a coil spring 50 on an upstanding bolt 52 extending from the plate element 40. Thus the ear member 46 may pivot upwardly against the action of the spring 50.

An upstanding paddle arch plate 54 is provided on the sleeve elements 44 and is concave forwardly to matingly engage the back and rear end of an animal.

Rotatable with the laterally extending rod 42 is a clamping member 60 having forwardly extending leg portions 62 at opposite ends which merge into downwardly extending leg portions 64 adjustably connected to the rod 42 for rotation therewith. Lock nuts 66 are provided on opposite sides of the leg portions 64 to hold the clamping member 60 in the desired position relative to the base rails 14. An actuating member 70 is also mounted on the outer end of the rod 42 and adjustably held in place by a pair of lock nuts 72 on opposite sides thereof. The actuating rod 70 includes a concave rearwardly extending portion 74 for engagement by the operators hip such that forward and downward pressure on the actuator 70 will cause the clamping member 60 to move downwardly towards the base rails 14 to clamp the rear legs 76 against the mid-section 78 of a pig 80, as seen in FIG. 4. As seen in FIG. 3, the clamping member 60 includes spaced apart end-to-end portions 82 extending laterally of the forward extending portions 62. A sleeve element 86 embraces the cross portions 82.

In operation it is seen that the pig holding device 10 is first placed at a convenient height for the operator on a gate, fence, or wall structure 24 and the downwardly facing U-shaped clamps 22 are locked to the support structure 24 by the hand actuated adjustment screws 26 being tightened. The slide unit 36 is moved to the right as seen in FIG. 1 and the pig is placed upside down on the base rails 14 with its nose in the nose ring 12. The operator presses his hip against the extended portion 74 of the actuator 70 thereby pressing it downwardly and forwardly causing the slide 36 to move forwardly and at the same time pivot the clamp 60 down onto the pig's rear legs 76, as seen in FIG. 4, to securely hold the pig against the base rails 14 and the nose ring 12. At this point the pig is completely restrained against movement and any operation may be performed as desired on the pig by the operator operating alone. When work has been completed on the pig the hip pressure on the actuator 70, 74 is released thereby allowing the slide unit 36 to be moved to the right whereby the pig may be lifted upwardly and out of the pig holding device. The spring 50 will cause the clamp member 60 to pivot upwardly out of engagement with the pig and to a position to receive the next pig. The lock nuts 68 and 72 on the cross rod 42 make it possible to adjust the actuator arm 70 and the clamping member 60 to any desired angular position relative to the horizontal or base rods 14. The various positions of the elements will depend upon the individual operators and the size of the pigs being worked upon. Additionally, the length of the legs 64 for the clamping member 60 may be varied by utilizing the plurality of aligned openings in the lower free ends of the legs 64.

I claim:

1. An animal holder comprising,

a base member,

an animal nose engaging portion at one end of said base member,

a clamping member extending above and across said base member with leg portions extending downwardly at opposite ends of said cross member,

a slide member slidably engaging said base member and interconnecting said leg portions, said leg por tions of said clamping member being pivotally connected to said slide member for selectively clamping the rear legs of an animal against its midsection,

an actuation member being connected to said clamping member and extending laterally outwardly for engagement by an operator for pivoting said clamping member and moving said slide member along said slide."

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said slide member includes an upstanding concave forward member under said clamping member for matingly engaging the rear end of an animal and said concave forward member being operatively connected to said clamping member for pivotal movement therewith.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein a spring means operatively engages said clamping member to yieldably maintain said clamping member at a desired angle relative to said base member and said actuation member being adapted to pivot said clamping member forwardly and downwardly towards said base member against the action of said spring.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein releaseable clamping means are provided on said base member for securing said holder to an upstanding support.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein side rails extend rearwardly from said nose engaging portion on opposite sides of said base member.

6. The structure of claim 4 wherein adjustment means is provided between said clamping member and said slide member and said actuating member and said clamping member for varying the relative angularity therebetween.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein said clamping member extending across said base member includes a pair of cross portions in end-to-end spaced apart relationship interconnected by a cushioning sleeve. 

1. An animal holder comprising, a base member, an animal nose engaging portion at one end of said base member, a clamping member extending above and across said base member with leg portions extending downwardly at opposite ends of said cross member, a slide member slidably engaging said base member and interconnecting said leg portions, said leg portions of said clamping member being pivotally connected to said slide member for selectively clamping the rear legs of an animal against its mid-section, an actuation member being connected to said clamping member and extending laterally outwardly for engagement by an operator for pivoting said clamping member and moving said slide member along said slide.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said slide member includes an upstanding concave forward member under said clamping member for matingly engaging the rear end of an animal and said concave forward member being operatively connected to said clamping member for pivotal movement therewith.
 3. The structure of claim 1 wherein a spring means operatively engages said clamping member to yieldably maintain said clamping member at a desired angle relative to said base member and said actuation member being adapted to pivot said clamping member forwardly and downwardly towards said base member against the action of said spring.
 4. The structure of claim 1 wherein releaseable clamping means are provided on said base member for securing said holder to an upstanding support.
 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein side rails extend rearwardly from said nose engaging portion on opposite sides of said base member.
 6. The structure of claim 4 wherein adjustment means is provided between said clamping member and said slide member and said actuating member and said clamping member for varying the relative angularity therebetween.
 7. The structure of claim 6 wherein said clamping member extending across said base member includes a pair of cross portions in end-to-end spaced apart relationship interconnected by a cushioning sleeve. 